Hospital bed bath

ABSTRACT

SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING ON A BED HAVING A MATTRESS A TUB FORMED OF A FLEXIBLE SHEET OF WATER-REPELLENT MATERIAL COMPRISING A PAIR OF MOUNTING BRACKETS. EACH MOUNTING BRACKET HAS A BASE PORTION ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED AT ONE END OF THE BED BENEATH THE MATTRESS. EACH MOUNTING BRACKET ALSO HAS A PAIR OF UPSTANDING POST PORTIONS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER AND EXTENDED ABOVE THE MATTRESS. SIDE WALL SUPPORTING MEANS PREFERABLY ARE SWINGABLY CONNECTED TO EACH OF THE UPSTANDING POST PORTIONS FOR SWINGING MOVEMENT BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION WHERE THE SIDE WALL SUPPORTING MEANS ARE ADAPTED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR THE SIDE WALL PORTIONS OF THE TUB AND A SECOND POSITION WHERE THE SIDE WALL SUPPORTING MEANS ARE DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE PLANES OF THE POSTS OF THE MOUNTING BRACKETS.

26, 1971 R. J. SCHMIDT I HOSPITAL BED BAI'H 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14. 1968 Zig 'liunmmll n a i.

WwW/fm Jam 26, 1971 R..1.sc||M|D-rv v HOSPITAL BED BATH Filed Aug. 14, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,557,392 HOSPITAL BED BATH Richard J. Schmidt, Franklin Park, Ill., assignor t Richard J. Schmidt Corporation, Franklin Park, lll., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 752,591 Int. Cl. A47k 3/08 U.S. Cl. 4-177 5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Supporting structure for supporting on a bed having a mattress a tub formed of a flexible sheet of water-repellent material comprising a pair of mounting brackets. Each mounting bracket has a base portion adapted to be disposed at one end of the bed beneath the mattress. Each mounting bracket also has a pair of upstanding post portions spaced from each other and extended above the mattress. Side wall supporting means preferably are swingably connected to 4each of the opstanding post portions for swinging movement between `a first position where the side wall supporting means are adapted to provide support for the side wall portions of the tub` and a second position where the side wall supporting means are disposed substantially in the planes of the posts of the mounting brackets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a bathing device and more particularly to a bathing device suitable for bathing bedridden patients without removing them from their beds 'and also suitable for therapeutic purposes such as the treatment of burns covering major portions of the body of a patient and the promotion of post-surgical healing after hemorrhoidectomies and other surgical operations.

In connection Iwith bathing devices to be used by bedridden patients, it has been proposed to provide a flexible sheet of water-repellent material having a base portion which rests on the mattress of a bed and integral side and end wall portions which surround the base portion and form the sheet into a tub when erected. IIn U.S. Pat. No. 3,246,346 there is shown a bathing device comprising a sheet of the foregoing type and further comprising cord means |along the upper edges of the side and end wall portions of the sheet and bracket means at both ends of the mattress cooperating with the mattress and engaging the cord means to support the side and end wall portions of the sheet in an upright position. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,373,451 there is shown a similar bathing device in which rigid pole members extend through open-ended channels formed along the upper edges of the side wall portions of the sheet to prevent the side walls of the tub from sagging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the primary object of this invention to provide a bathing device comprising a sheet of the aforementioned type and further comprising an improved supporting structure.

The improved supporting structure comprises a mounting -bracket at each end of the flexible sheet of water-repellent material. Bach bracket has a base portion and the base portions of the brackets are adapted to be disposed at opposite ends of the bed beneath the mattress. Each bracket also has a pair of upstanding post portions spaced from each other and extended above the mattress. The improved supporting structure further comprises side wall supporting means swingably connected with each of the upstanding post portions for swinging movement between a rst position and a second position. The supporting means in the iirst position are adapted to extend generally parallel with the side walls of the tub and to be operatively asso- Patented Jan. 2.6, 1971 ciated with the side walls of the tub to provide support therefor. The supporting means in the second position 4are disposed substantially in the plane of the post portions of a bracket.

It is another object of this invention to provide a bathing device, as described, wherein the supporting structure is adapted to be readily assembled for use and partly disassembled for storage, and wherein the partly disassembled supporting structure is adapted to be stored on the bed out of the way of the occupant of the bed.

Preferably, side struts are adapted to be operatively associated with `and to extend between respective pairs of the side wall supporting means along the side walls of the tub, and an additional strut extends between the post portions of each of the mounting brackets. Each of the side struts may be disassembled from the operatively associated pair of side wall supporting means and may be detachably tied by means of a thin exible member to the additional strut at one of the mounting brackets and to the side wall supporting means swingably connected with the same mounting bracket. Thus, the mounting brackets may be stored on the bed, the side wall supporting means and the side struts being lout of the way of the occupant of the bed.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following description, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. l is atop plan view of a bathing device embodying the principles of this invention, showing the relationship of the bathing device to the mattress and framework of a i bed, portions of the tub of the bathing device and portions lof the mattress and framework of the bed being broken away to show the supporting structure of the bathing device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the bathing device;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the 'bathing device;

FIG. 4 is a first enlarged perspective view of a mounting bracket at one end of the supporting structure, two supporting means assembled to the mounting bracket, and a side strut disassembled from one of the supporting means and slipped through a tubular portion of a thin flexible holder which is attached to a strut of the mounting bracket;

FIG. 5 is a second enlarged perspective of the elements which are shown in FIG. 4, showing the two supporting means and the side strut tied to the strut of the mounting bracket by means of cords attached to the thin flexible holder; and

FIG. 6 is a detail view of the thin flexible holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In he drawings there is shown a bathing device, indicated generally at 10, constituting the presently preferred embodiment of this invention.

The bathing device 10 comprises a tub 12 which may be fabricated of any water-repellent llexible sheet material capable of withstanding dry heat and gas sterilization and preferably is fabricated of a woven nylon fabric which is vinyl coated on both sides and which is resistant to bacterial and fungal attack. A suitable material is Interchemical Part No. G-5.2522, sold by Interchemical Corporation, 837 Buckingham St., Toledo, Ohio 436-01.

The tub 12 has a generally rectangular base portion 14, longitudinal side wall portions 16 and 18, and end wall portions 20 and 22. The seams between the side and end wall portions are sealingly secured together by closestitched sewing, or by water-resistant cement, or both.

The side wall portions 16 and 18 and end wall portions and 22 of the tub 12 may be folded inwardly and downwardly against the base portion 14 to provide an overall fiat article. This arrangement facilitates not only storage of the tub 12 but also erection and use thereof. When the tub 12 is to be collapsed, the side 'wall por* tions 16 and 18 may be first folded against the base portion 14 and the end portions 20 and 22 then folded to overlie the side wall portions 16 and 18, or, alternatively, the end wall portions 20 and 22 may be first folded against the base portion 14 and the side Wall portions 16 and 18 then folded to overlie the end wall portions 20 and 22. In lany case, it is preferred that the side wall portions 16 and 18 be dimensioned so that they do not overlap or touch when folded to simplify unfolding of the tub 12 especially when a person is lying thereupon.

The upper edges of the side wall portions 16 and 18 and end wall portions 20 and 22 are folded back a short distance upon themselves and are suitably stitched lengthwise so as to define open-ended channel portions 24, 26,

28 and 30, respectively, extending about the tub at the side wall portions 16 and 18 and end wall portions 20 and 22. In addition, the side channel portions 24 and 26 have longitudinally spaced elongated openings or cutouts 36 and 38, respectively, formed therealong. Extending through the four channel portions 24, 26, 28 and 30 is a continuous cord 40 with the free ends thereof being suitably secured together by an adjustable locking device 42. The rope has loop portions projecting outwardly of the open ends of the channel portions 24, 26, 28 and 30 at the four corners of the tub 12. If desired, a ring (not shown) may be attached to each of the loops at the four corners of the tub 12.

In FIGS. 1 through 3, a bed is shown fragmentarily at 50. The bed comprises a framework, indicated generally at 52, and a level mattress 54 disposed upon the framework 52 in conventional manner.

The bathing device 10 further comprises a supporting structure 56 which supports the tub 12 on the bed 50. The supporting structure 56 comprises a first mounting bracket 58 at the first end 60` of the bed 50 and a second similar mounting bracket 62 at the second end 63 of the bed 50.

The first mounting bracket 58 is shown in FIGS. l through 3, with the tub 12 and the bed 50, and in FIGS. 4 and 5, without the tub 12 and the bed 50. The first mounting bracket 58 has a base portion 64, adapted to be disposed at the first end of the bed 50 beneath the mattress 54, and a pair of upstanding post portions 66 and 68, respectively, spaced from each other and extended above the mattress 54. The base portion 64 comprises a generally U-shaped tubular member 70 adapted to be disposed between the framework 52 of the bed 50 and the mattress 54. The generally U-shaped tubular member 70 has a first arm 72, from which extends an integral connecting pin 74, and a second arm 76, from which extends a similar integral connecting pin 78. The post portion 66 comprises a generally L-shaped tubular member having a short arm 82, which is adapted to be telescoped over the connecting pin 74 at the first arm 72 of the generally U-shaped tubular member 70, and a long arm 84 from which extends an integral connecting pin 86 of circular cross-section. The post portion 68 comprises a similar generally L-shaped tubular member having a short arm 90, which is adapted to be telescoped over the connecting pin 78 at the second arm 76 of the generally U-shaped member 70, and a long arm 92 from which extends an integral connecting pin 94 similar to the connecting pin 86. The long arm 84 of the generally L-shaped tubular member and the long arm 92 of the generally L-shaped tubular member 88 are adapted to be upright when the generally U-shaped tubular member 70 is disposed between the framework 52 of the bed 50 and the mattress 54,

The first mounting bracket 58 further comprises a transverse generally tubular strut 96 extending between the post portions 66 and 68. One end portion 98 of the strut 96 is shaped approximately as a half-cylinder to conform to the long arm 84 of the generally L-shaped tubular member, and the other end portion 100 of the strut 96 is similarly shaped to conform to the long arm 92 of the other generally L-shaped tubular member. The end portion 98 of the strut 96 is fastened to the long arm 84 of the generally L-shaped tubular member 88 by means of a bolt 102 engaging a wing-nut 104 and the end portion 100 of the strut 96 is similarly fastened to the long arm 92 of the generally L-shaped tubular member 88 by means of a bolt 106 engaging a wing-nut 108.

The conforming shapes of the end portions 98 and 100 lend structural rigidity to the first mounting bracket 58. Further structural rigidity would be obtained from making the aforementioned connecting pins 74 and 78 non-circular in cross section and shaping the short arm 82 of the generally L-shaped tubular member and the short arm 90 of the generally L-shaped tubular member accordingly. Such further step has not been found to be necessary.

The second mounting bracket 62 has a base portion 112, similar to the base portion 64 of the first mounting bracket 58 and adapted to be disposed at the second end 63 of the bed 50 beneath the mattress 54, and a pair of upstanding post portions 114 (one shown) spaced from each other and extended above the mattress 54. Respective connecting pins 1'18 and 120, similar to the aforementioned connecting pins 86 and 94, extend from the tubular members (one shown, not numbered) of which the respective post portions 114 are comprised. The second mounting bracket 62 further comprises a transverse strut 122, similar to the aforementioned transverse strut I96, extending between the post portions 114. In other y details, the second mounting bracket 62 is similar to the first mounting bracket 58.

The supporting structure 56 further comprises a first pair of side wall supporting means and 132, respectively, swingably connected with the post portions 66 and 68 of the first mounting bracket S8 for swinging movement between a first position and a second position, and a second pair of side wall supporting means 134 and 136, respectively, swingably connected with the post portions 114 of the second mounting bracket 62 for swinging movement between a first position and a second position. The side wall supporting means 130 comprises a tubular member 138 having a generally straight portion 140 and a recurved portion 142 continuous with the generally straight portion 140. The recurved portion 142 of the tubular member 138 is adapted to be telescoped over the connecting pin 86 of the first mounting bracket 58. The side wall supporting means 132 comprises a similar tubular member 144 having a generally straight portion 146 and a recurved portion 148 continuous with the generally straight portion 146. The recurved portion 148 of the tubular member 144 is adapted to be telescoped over the connecting pin 94 of the first mounting bracket 58. The side wall supporting means 134 comprises a similar tubular member 150 having a generally straight portion 152 and a recurved portion 154 continuous with the generally straight portion 152. The recurved portion 154 of the tubular member 150 is adapted to be telescoped over the connecting pin 118 of second mounting bracket 62. The side wall supporting means 136 comprises a similar tubular member 156 having a generally straight portion .158 and a recurved portion 160 continuous with the generally straight portion 158. The recurved portion 160 is adapted to be telescoped over the connecting pin 120 of the second mounting bracket 62. Accordingly, the first pair of side wall supporting means 130 and 132, respectively, and the second pair of side wall supporting means 134 and 136, respectively, are swingable between a first position and a second position.

While the telescoping connections between connecting pin 86 and portion 142 and pin 94 and recurved portion 148-as lwell as between pin 118 and portion 154 and pin 120 and portion 160i-are preferably made with cylindrical telescoping portions, they could be fornaed with a hexagonal or square, etc., shape and still be telescoping.

In FIG. 4, the first pair of side wall supporting means 130 and 132, respectively, are shown in the first position with the generally straight portions 140 and 146 of the respective tubular members 138 and 144 parallel to each other and extended normal to the plane of the post portions 66 and 68 of the Ifirst mounting bracket 58 so as to extend over the mattress 54 (FIGS. l through 3) when the first mounting bracket 58 is in place on the bed 50 (IFIGS. 1 through 3). When the second pair of side wall supporting means 134 and 136 are in the rst position, the generally straight portions 152 and 158 of the respective tubular members 150 and 156 are parallel to each other and extended normal to the plane of the post portions 114 of the second mounting bracket 62 so as to extend over the mattress 54 when the second mounting bracket 62 is in place on the bed 50.

In FIG. 5 the rst pair of side wall supporting members 130 and 132, respectively, are shown in the second position fwith the respective tubular members 138 and 144 folded one over the other and such that the first pair of side wall supporting means 130 and 132, respectively, are disposed substantially in the plane of the post portions 66 and 68 of the first mounting bracket 58. When the second pair of side wall supporting means 134 and 136 are in the second position, the respective tubular members 150 and 156 are similarly folded one over the other.

Furthermore, when both the first pair of side wall supporting means 130 and 132, respectively, and the second pair of side wall supporting means 134 and 136, respectively, are in the first position, the generally straight portion 140 of the tubular member 1318 may be aligned with the generally straight portion 152 of the tubular member 150, and the generally straight portion l146 ofthe tubular member 144 may be aligned with the generally straight portion 158 of the tubular member 156, such being the case in FIGS. l through 3.

The supporting structure 56 further comprises a pair of elongated tubular side struts 170 and 172, respectively, adapted to be associated with and to extend between respective pairs of the side wall supporting means, one such pair comprising the side wall supporting means 130 and 134 and the other such pair comprising the side wall supporting means 132 and 136. Integral connecting pins 174 and 176, similar to each other, extend from opposite ends (not numbered) of the side strut 170, and integral connecting pins (not shown), similar to the connecting pins 174 and 176 and thus to each other, extend from opposite ends (not numbered) of the side strut 172. In order that the side strut 170 may be associated with the side wall supporting means 130 and 134, the generally straight portion 140 of the tubular member 138 is adapted to be telescoped over the connecting pin 174, and the generally straight portion 152 of the tubular member 150 is adapted to be telescoped over the connecting pin 176, alignment of the generally straight portion 140 of the tubular member 138 and the generally straight portion 152 of the tubular member 150 being requisite to such assembly. Similarly, in order that the side strut 172 may be associated with the sidewall supporting means 132 and 136, the generally straight portion 146 of the tubular member 144 is adapted to be telescoped over one of the connecting pins on the side strut 172 and the generally straight portion 158 of the tubular member 156 is adapted to be telescoped over the other of the connecting pins on the side strut 172, alignment of the generally straight portion 146 of the tubular member 144 and the generally straight portion 158 of the tubular member 156 being requisite to such assembly.

In the initial step in assembling the bathing device for use, the first and second mounting brackets 58 and 62 are assembled and put in place on the bed 50 with base portion 64 of the first mounting bracket 58 disposed at the first end 60 of the bed 50 beneath the mattress 54 and with the base portion 112 of the second mounting bracket 62 disposed at the second end 63 of the bed 50 beneath the mattress 54. In the next step in assembling the bathing device 10 for use, the tub 12 is placed beneath the occupant of the bed and unfolded, and the loop portions of the cord 40 (or rings attached thereto, if used) are pulled over the post portions 66 and -68 of the first mounting bracket 58 onto the strut 96 of the first mounting bracket 58 and over the post portions 114 (one shown) of the second mounting bracket 62 onto the strut 122 of the second mounting bracket 62, whereupon the tub 12 is erected. As shown, the end portion 20 of the tub 12 is adjacent to the first mounting bracket 58, and the end portion 22 of the tub 12 is adjacent to the second mounting bracket 62.

In the next step in assembling the bathing device 10 for use, the side wall supporting means and 134 are fitted into the open-ended channel portion 24 at the side wall portion 16 of the tub 12 with the side strut 170 therebetween, and the side strut 170 is associated with the side wall supporting means 130 and 134. In the same step, the side wall supporting means 132 and 136 are fitted into the open-ended channel portion 26 at the side wall portion 18 of the tub 12 with the side strut 172 therebetween, and the strut 172 is associated with the side wall supporting means 132 and 136. As shown, the side wall supporting means 130 and 134 enter the open-ended channel portion 24 of the side wall portion 16 of the tu'b 12 through the opposite endmost of the openings or cut-outs 36 formed therealong and the side wall supporting means 132 and 136 enter the open-ended channel portion 26 at the side wall portion 18 of the tub 12 through the opposite endmost of the openings or cut-outs 38 formed therealong. In the alternative, the open-ended channel portion 24 at the side wall portion 16 of the tub 12 may have additional slits (not shown) therein receiving the side wall supporting means 130 and 134, and the open-ended channel portion 26 at the side wall portion 18 of the tub 12 may have similar additional slits (not shown) therein receiving the side Wall supporting means 132 and 136. In either case, the openings or cut-outs 36 and 38 facilitate manipulation of the side struts 170 and 172. When the supporting structure is assembled, then the rope 40 is drawn up tight and locked in taut condition by the locking means 42. This assures that the assembly will not accidentally separate at any joint.

The bathing device 10 may be partly diassembled for storage of the supporting structure 56 on the bed 50 out of the way of the occupant of the 'bed 50 by disassociation of the side strut 170 from the side wall supporting means 130 and 132 and disassociation of the side strut 172 from the side wall supporting means 134 and 136 and by removal of the tub 12.

A thin fiexible member 190, preferably made of sturdy cloth, is used to detachably tie one of the side struts 170 and 172 (as shown, the side strut 170) to the strut 96 of the lirst mounting bracket 58 and to the generally straight portions and 146 of the respective tubular members 138 and 144 when the first pair of side wall supporting means 130 and 132, respectively, are in the second position. The thin flexible member 190 is sewn so as to provide one tubular portion 192 which fits over the strut 96 of the first mounting bracket 58, another tubular portion 194 into which the side strut 170 or 172 may be fitted, and a tag portion 196 in which a grommet 198 is provided. A lace 200 is strung through the grommet 196.

When the thin flexible member 190 is not being used, it may be left on the strut 96 of the first mounting bracket 58, as is shown in FIG. 3. After the bathing device has been partly disassembled as mentioned, the side strut or 172 may be fitted through the tubular portion 194 of the thin flexible member 190, as is shown in FIG. 4,

whereupon the tirst pair of side wall supporting means 130 and 132, respectively, may be swung to the second position, the tag portion 196 may be wound around the generally straight portions 140 and 146 of the respective tubular members 138 and 144 and back around itself, and the lace 200 may be wound around the resultant bundle and releasably knotted, as is shown in FIG. 5 at 202.

A similar thin exible member (not shown) is used to detachably tie the other of the side struts 170 and 172 to the strut 122 of the second mounting bracket 62 and to the generally straight portions 152 and 158 of the respective tubular members 150 and 156 when the second pair of side wall supporting means 130 and 132, respectively, are in the second position.

It should be understood that the foregoing description of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention has been presented solely by way of example and that numerous changes therein may be suggested by this disclosure to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the scope of this invention should be determined from the following claims.

I claim:

1. Supporting structure for supporting on a bed having a mattress a tub formed of a flexible sheet of waterrepellent material having a base portion which rests on the mattress and integral side and end wall portions which surround the base portion, said supporting structure comprising a pair of mounting brackets, each mounting bracket having a base portion and said base portions of said mounting brackets being adapted to be disposed at opposite ends of the bed beneath the mattress, each mounting bracket also having a pair of upstanding post portions spaced from each other and extended above the mattress, a transverse strut secured to and between each pair of upstanding post portions, side wall supporting means connectible with each of said pair of upstanding post portions and adapted to have a first position and a second position, said side wall supporting means in said first position being adapted to provide support for the side wall portions of the tub and in said second position being disposed substantially in the plane of the posts of a mounting bracket, said side wall supporting means including portions adapted to lie closely adjacent one of said transverse struts when said side wall supporting means are in said second positions, a pair of side struts each being adapted to be associated with and to extend between two of said side wall supporting means along one of the side walls of the tub, and means for detachably securing two of said side wall supporting means to the strut of each of said mounting brackets.

2. Supporting means for use in supporting on the mattress of a bed a tub for a bed-ridden patient which tub is formed of a exible sheet of water-repellant material having a base for resting on the mattress and having side and end wall portions which portions when supported in a raised position provide a tub shape, each of said side wall portions having an open-ended channel extending along the upper edges thereof, said supporting means comprising a pair of mounting brackets, each bracket having a base and the bases being adapted to be disposed at opposite ends of the bed beneath the mattress, each bracket also having a pair of upstanding post portions spaced from each other and extending above the mattress, side wall supporting means swingably connected with each of said upstanding post portions, said side wall supporting means in one position being adapted to be disposed in channels of the side walls of the tub and, in a second position to which they are swingable, being disposed substantially in the plane of the upstanding posts of a bracket, a strut adapted to be operatively associated with and to extend between each pair of side wall supporting means along a side wall of the tub, and means associated with each bracket for storing a strut generally in the plane of the upstanding post portions.

3. The "slipporting means of claim 2 wherein the storing means comprises a tubular holder associated with the bracket.

4. The supporting means of claim 2 wherein the storing means comprises a thin flexible member carried by said strut which extends between the upstanding post portions of a bracket, and the exible member has a tubular holder.

5. A bathing device adapted to be supported on the mattress of a bed and comprising a flexible sheet of waterrepellant material which is resistant to bacterial and fungal attack, said sheet having a base for resting on the mattress and having side and end wall portions which portions when supported in a raised position provide a tub shape, each of said side and end Wall portions having an open-ended channel extending along the upper edges thereof with a cord extending through said channels and having loop portions projecting out in the open ends of said channels, and supporting means for the tub comprising a pair of mounting brackets, each bracket having a base and the bases being adapted to be disposed at opposite ends of the bed beneath the mattress, each bracket also having a pair of upstanding post portions spaced from each other and extending above the mattress, side wall supporting means swingably connected with each of said upstanding post portions, a strut extending between said post portions adjacent their free ends, said side wall supporting means having a telescoping connection with said post portions and being removable therefrom to permit the loop portions of the cord to be placed about the post portions and to rest upon said strut and to permit easy assembly of said side wall supporting means and the tub, said side wall supporting means in one position being adapted to be disposed in channels of the side walls of the tub and, in a second position to which they are swingable, being disposed substantially in the plane of the upstanding posts of a bracket with portions disposed closely adjacent said strut, strut means adapted to be operatively associated with and to extend between each pair of side wall supporting means along a side wall of the tub when the side wall supporting means are in said one position, each strut means having a telescoping connection with said side wall supporting means and being of a configuration permitting it to be disposed in a channel along the side wall of the tub, and each strut means being of a length approximately equal to the distance between the upstanding post portions of a bracket, and means associated with each bracket for storing a strut generally in the plane of the upstanding post portions, said storing means comprising a thin exible member carried by the strut which extends between the upstanding post portions of a bracket with said exible member having a tubular holder for the strut means and being of a length which permits it to wrap around portions of the two side wall supporting means when they are in their second position, whereby the side wall supporting means and associatable side supporting strut means may all be secured together and stored at the brackets generally in the plane of the upstanding post portions and out of the way of a patient when the tub is disassociated from the brackets and is not in use.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,700,474 1/1955 Visk 4-177X 2,766,462 10/1956 Norman et al. 4-177X 2,8l5,512 12/1957 Meekin et al. 4-177X 3,246,346 4/1966 Schmidt 4-177 3,373,451 3/1968 Schmidt 4--177 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner J. H. DODGE, Assistant Examiner 

